Campus Wide Initiatives

If you’ve heard about Banner 9, you likely thought it was just another routine upgrade
to Banner. According to vendor Ellucian, however, it “is no ordinary upgrade.“It delivers a fresh user experience, all new tools, and significantly improved capabilities
across Banner, driving new efficiencies so you can focus on student success,” the
company stated.Banner 9’s new user interface, known as Application Navigator (or App Nav), replaces
underlying Banner 8 technology being phased out—including Oracle Forms—and eliminates
the need to run Java in the browser. Oracle Forms and Java are the technologies that you are using when you log in to the
current Banner 8 INB system. On Banner 9, what used to be referred to as INB instead
will be referred to as the Admin Pages, which are like web pages of the old INB forms.

With more MTSU systems using single sign-on (SSO) services, it has never been more
important to protect your MTSU account from unauthorized access. SSO services make
it easier to access MTSU systems using a common user name and password. However, this
also means the risk associated with a compromised user name and password significantly
increases. Phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering constantly target the
University population with the intent of stealing users’ credentials to gain unauthorized
access to MTSU systems. While users should always create strong passwords to protect
against unauthorized access, passwords alone are simply no longer a sufficient means
of authentication. As a result, MTSU now offers Multi-factor Authentication services to protect your MTSU account. This means systems using SSO services will
require a second factor of authentication in addition to a password. So if hackers
compromise your password, they would still need a second factor, like your phone,
to complete an authentication request.

MTSU Network Services is continually updating the campus wired network. Projects include
expanding the inter-building fiber network, adding additional port connectivity in
specific buildings, and upgrading older equipment no longer capable of supporting
the demand for more bandwidth and security. Each year, TAF and ITD fund upgrades on
selected buildings that need network improvements. Over the last two years there has
also been major changes to the core network by adding network electronics that work
together to create redundant building connectivity with 40Gbps interconnections. The
wireless core network was also upgraded in anticipation of additional wireless traffic
generated by the expansion of wireless networking in all campus buildings.

MTSU Network Services is continuing an expansive project to provide complete wireless
network coverage to the main campus. The project began with the College of Education
receiving the first wireless upgrade in support of several student success initiatives
in that building. Each room was surveyed to determine if the current wireless coverage
was adequate in terms of signal strength and call capacity. The data was then modeled
in special software, pinpointing the exact locations of where wireless access points
were needed throughout the building to meet the new performance standards of MTSU
Networking Services. Through funding provided by the Information Technology Division,
the College of Education Building wireless network was completed, providing enhanced
coverage and excellent capacity to handle many more wireless devices, including smartphones,
laptops, and tablets.